Thomas pratt



(N0 Model.)

T. PRATT. i CARPET STRETGHER.

N0. 367,320. Patented July 26, 1887.

TlmmmB. Pratt.

WI TJVESSES N PETERS. PholoLkhngr-lmn Wqihinghm. D. C-

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

THOMAS PRATT, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM J. LIGHTOAP, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR'PET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 367,320, dated July 26, 1887. Application filed February 5, 1887. Serial No. 220.724. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Valparaiso, in the county of Porter and State of Indiana, have invented a new and nseful Machine for Stretching Carpets, (commonly called a Oarpet-Stretcher;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a'full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specificatio'n.

Ais thehead, made of wood-size, six inches by fourteen inches-holding the brads or teeth L L, which-fasten into the carpet. B B is a hinge connecting head A with lever D. O O are braces. H and K are strips containing holes 1 1 1, &c., providing for extending and enlarging the machine to fit different sized rooms.

The machine is operated as follows: The head A, containing teeth'L L, is placed upon the carpet three or four inches from the edge, leaving distance or space enough to tack easily. The strip Klies on the carpet, the end of which, M, rests against the base-board on the side of the room opposite to place where carpet is to be tacked. By pushing down on lever D,

: either above or below bolt E, the head A moves,

thus bringing carpet to the required place. When carpet is stretched to the required place, if only one person is at Work, the machine may be held in stain qua until carpet is tacked by fastening hook E in screw-eyes g g, 850. The machine is adjusted to rooms of different sizes by changing bolts E E to dift'erent'holes l 1 in strips H and K. The strips D, H, and K are eight feet long in ordinary-sized machines.

The advantages which I claim for my stretchers are, first, there is no danger of tearing carpets, there being teeth enough to prevent such; second, the machine can be worked easily by a person in a standing position; third, the machine stretches the carpet the full length or width of the room.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' In a carpet-stretcher, the combination of the head A, provided on its under side with a series of teeth, said head being hinged to the end of a lever, D, by a central hinge, B, and

braces G G, the lever D provided at the end opposite the head with a hook, F, the extension-bar H, providedwithaseries of longitudinal perforations and with a series of staples with which the hook F may engage, and a per forated bar, K, the bars and lever being pivotally and adj ustably connected to each other,

whereby the carpet-stretcher may be adjusted to rooms of different widths and held in an extended position, the parts being organized sub- 

